February 26, 2026
Something important is happening behind the scenes of your favorite Virginia distilleries.
Earlier this month, distillers from across the commonwealth gathered for the first Virginia Spirits Summit & Conference. While it may sound like an industry event, the conversations and collaborations that happened will directly shape what ends up in your glass and how Virginia spirits are recognized across the country.
The biggest takeaway: Virginia’s spirits industry is more unified, more ambitious and more focused on quality than ever before.
And that’s good news for anyone who loves discovering something exceptional.
Since the very beginning, producing spirits has been about people. People who source the grains. People who put their craftsmanship to the test. People who come together to enjoy the finished product.
Distillers across the commonwealth mostly have been operating independently, creating something unique to their region, methods and story. But with events like this, they’re combining their individual strengths and knowledge to elevate Virginia as one of America’s premier spirits destinations.
With initiatives like the First Landing Cup in March, Virginia Spirits Month in September, new statewide collaborations and major storytelling campaigns tied to the Virginia American Revolution 250 Commemoration (VA250), distillers are aligning their efforts to bring more visibility to Virginia-made spirits — not just locally, but nationally.
For consumers, that means more award-winning bottles to discover, events to attend and reasons to feel proud of what’s being made right here at home.
One of the biggest focuses of the summit was understanding and serving customers better.
Distillers are digging into real data to learn who is visiting tasting rooms, what they enjoy and how to create more meaningful experiences. They’re also refining their storytelling, photography and brand identity so when you encounter a Virginia spirit, you understand not just how it tastes, but where it came from and why it matters.
This investment shows up in ways you can feel through thoughtful tasting-room experiences, cohesive identities and deeper connections to the people behind the bottle.
Find a distillery near you to see what they’ve been up to.
Virginia isn’t just participating in America’s spirits-making story. It’s where it all began.
More than 250 years ago, Virginia was the center of American distilling. Now, distillers are working with farmers to revive historic heritage grains that once defined the flavor of early American whiskey through the Virginia Heritage Grain Project.
These grains produce distinctive flavors you won’t find anywhere else and help create spirits that are truly rooted in Virginia’s land and history.
It’s part of a larger movement to answer a simple, but powerful, question: What does Virginia taste like?
You might not consider all the steps, decisions and investments that go into producing your favorite bottle of Virginia spirits. It takes more than grains and equipment to be successful in the distilling industry.
With leadership from the Virginia Distiller’s Association, distillers are working with their local lawmakers to advocate for policies that support local businesses, help distilleries grow and level the playing field among other craft beverage producers in Virginia.
When the industry grows stronger, shoppers benefit from greater availability, more innovation and a wider range of world-class spirits produced in the commonwealth.
The Virginia Spirits Summit & Conference is just one example of how the industry is evolving and growing together to tell a story that extends far beyond the bottle.
And if you’re a fan of Virginia spirits, you’re part of that story.
Because every time you order a Virginia-made cocktail, visit a tasting room or share a bottle with friends, you’re helping fuel a movement that’s only just getting started.
Virginia’s deep roots in history and agriculture offers the perfect backdrop for a burgeoning distilling industry, but its future will be defined by how intentionally our farmers, distillers and local communities stay connected and carry that legacy forward, one glass at a time.
